Following is a question received from our technical support response team:

Question:

We have a Fargo DTC525 printer. The PVC cards we use do not feed off of the hopper. What steps do we take?

Answer:

Make sure that your hopper card thickness gauge (located on the right side of the hopper) is set to 30 ml or above if you are using standard 30 ml PVC cards.

It is also recommended that you clean the printer with a Fargo printer cleaning kit for this printer.

Also check to make sure to check your PVC cards. Sometimes they have too much static and can stick together not allowing them to feed. Fan the cards before placing them back in the hopper to make sure they are not sticking. In this process, try not to touch the printing surface of the cards as oils from skin will cause defective printing results.

If the problem persists, contact your solutions provider for technical assistance or the Fargo Technical Support line at 800-459-5636 for specific repair information.

For additional information about the current Fargo printer models, let our ID card experts provide you with a free consultation.

Following is a question received from our technical support response team:

Question:

My Fargo DTC400 printer will jam frequently during print jobs. We need to know what to do to eliminate this error.

Answer:

The DTC400 has an O-ring that drives the card feed rollers. There has been frequent issues with older models of Fargo DTC400 printers where the o ring has stretched or broken. Issues with the O-ring cause irregular feed roller issues, ribbon breakage or misalignment of print registration.

The first step is to do a ribbon sensor calibration. This can be done through your print driver using the directions in our link.

If the problem persists, the DTC400 came with a two year manufacturer warranty that may still provide repair assistance. Contact your solutions provider for technical assistance or the Fargo Technical Support line at 800-459-5636 for specific repair information.

For additional information about the Fargo DTC400e, Persona C30e or other Fargo printers, let our id card experts provide you with a free consultation.

Following is a question and answer from our technical support response team:

Question:

Infrequently, but enough to be a bother, my Evolis Quantum has flipped the image it was printing all by itself. Without doing anything technical to the printer, the image flips back by itself. The image flip seems to occur every 75 to 100 cards. What can we do to fix this problem.

Answer:

The first step we would recommend is to update your printer firmware and print driver for the proper operating system that you are using. Updated firmware and print drivers are available on the evolis website .

Following is a question received from our technical support response team:

Question:

Our Datacard SP35 Plus printer provides us with constant ribbon breaks. We are printing with YMCKO print ribbon. The printer will only print about one in 50 cards correctly. The ribbon looks like it is stuck to the card when it breaks. Any ideas?

Answer:

Try the following steps:

1. Check the print head temperature to make sure that it is hot enough to transfer the ribbon to the card.

2. The surface of the PVC card may not be image compatible. Try another brand of card or opt to 60/40 composite cards for testing.

For additional information about the current Datacard printer models, let our id card experts provide you with a free consultation.

When installing a new id card printer, one of the first steps is to install the printer driver. The driver is located on the CD that is included with the printer.

When the driver is installed, an instructional window will advise you to connect the id card printer to the PC. To do this, locate the USB port on the printer. Connect the printer to the PC with the printer cable. Many printer models include a printer cable with the purchase of a printer.

To locate the USB port on the id card printer, look at the back of the printer. Some manufacturers place a piece of protective white tape over the USB port. The tape states that the ID card printer driver needs to be installed in the computer prior to plugging the printer cable into the port.

Once the printer and computer are connected correctly by the printer cable, communication can occur allowing the printer to begin printing the id badges needed.

When using smart cards in an ID card printer, there are times that the colors printed on the card do not turn out as expected. In a standard 30 ml card print, the colors are bright, crisp and consistent across the surface of the card. Sometimes smart cards show a variance in color leaving the printer operator wondering what happened during the printing of the card.

The occurrence is common. The variance produced is most likely due to microchip embedded in the card. The chip produces a bump in the card surface that prevents the color from printing evenly across the card surface. The composition of the microchip and accompanying antennas may affect the heat absorption as the printhead passes over the card during printing. The difference in heat may cause the resulting color difference.

Current Fargo printers that will allow encoding of proximity cards are the Fargo HDP5000, Fargo DTC550 and Fargo DTC400e. For information about cards that can be integrated with identification applications, visit our HID prox card page.

Trying to figure out which of the many id card printer options is the best one for your current and future needs. Followin are tips for the right id card printer selection:

1. The design of the badge – Does the card require full color photos and logos? Does the card need to be printed only on the front of the badge or on both sides? Does the card require full color printing or will single color options work for your badging? Answers to these questions will guide you into certain models of printers and exclude others from available options.

2. The function of the badge – Is the card only for identification by humans or does it need to have the capabilies of being read by machine scanners and readers for access and enterance requirements. Some basic level printers do not have options for encoding.

3. The environment of the badge -Where will the badge be used? Will it endure harsh conditions? Will it be carried safely in a cardholder wallet? How many years is the expected lifespan before replacement is acceptable to the organization.

4. The number of badges printed – Some printers are made for light card production environments. Hand fed printers do not have the capabilities of production like high volume industrial printer models where thousands of cards may be needed daily.

5. Security requirements of the badge – Will the badge need to be highly secure and not able to be counterfeited? Is there a need for biometrics, access control features or holographic laminates on the badge.

6. Where is the information that will be printed on the badge – Will each badge be hand typed in? Is there information in an Access database or MySQL database that can be imported into the database? Will the printer system be on a network or be on a stand alone computer?

It is easy to duplicate a white card with a logo and name on it. There are additional security measures you may wish to consider when designing your id card for maximum security.

1. To begin the graphic design process, you may find it helpful to divide your card up into a grid. Place the larger and fixed elements into the card first and determine whether the card will be veritical or horizontal. Remember to leave a placeholder for the badge slot punch if there will be one on your cards.

2. Use color in your card. Avoid extremes. Dark colors are hard to read and light colors make the card look washed out. Bright colors work best with variance in color to distinguish different levels of access or achievement.

3. A colored photo of the cardholder as large as possible on the card increases the security of the card. A colored photo is more secure than a black and white picture. Although high resolution is important, a picture size that is too large will be combersome in some computers and id badge design programs.

4. Choose a good font or fonts that appeal to the reader and are in good taste. Too many fonts on the card are distracting. Often a sans serif font is recommended for the text.

5. You may wish to incorporate a hologram on the card. The hologram can be clear, a standard pattern or custom. The protective overlay makes it difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce.

6. If your budget allows for an advanced printer, you may wish to consider a printer that uses reverse image printing technology. The security level of these cards are greater than a standard direct-to-card print. With the additional benefits of a better quality print and durability of the cards, some organizations choose to go this route.

Fargo ID card printers use a printhead to burn color onto the PVC card as it passes through the printer. This process produces the colorful identification cards and membership cards that you carry in your wallet.

Occasionally, it is necessary to replace the printhead. You will often need to replace the printhead when you see a small white horizontal line consistently in your printed cards.

The replacement printhead as a one year limited warranty. The replacement warranty is subject to review by Fargo Electronics Technical Support Team.

This means that the printhead would need to be returned to Fargo by way of an RMA. If they deem that the printhead was internally defective, they warranty the part. Shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer.

If you have additional questions about this warranty or other card printer questions, contact our id card experts toll free at 888-485-4696. For additional information about the Fargo DTC400e, Persona C30e or other Fargo printers, let our ID card experts provide you with a free consultation.

When printing PVC cards with a Fargo DTC525 card printer or a Fargo DTC550 card printer, the LCD screen may display that a card feed error has occurred when a print job stops printing cards. Steps to follow to correct the card feed error and continue card printing are as follows:

1. Clean the printer with a printer cleaning kit. Make sure that all of the rollers are cleaned well.

2. Check and replace the card cleaner roller that is attached to the blue cleaner roller cartridge. This is located in the inside right hand side of the printer. Make sure that the cleaner roller cartridge is seated all the way down into the the slot.

3. Check your PVC cards for extensive static that can cause the cards to stick together and not feed properly.

4. Make sure the card thickness gauge on the right hand side of the card hopper is set to the proper card thickness for the cards you are using.

For information about the Fargo DTC550 or other Fargo printers, contact us for a free consultation at 888-485-4696.